Two Deaths From Diphtheria

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 7

Two Deaths From Diphtheria

Prevalence in Upper Hutt District NO CAUSE FOR ALARM Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Two deaths from diphtheria and 13 cases of the disease were reported to the Wellington office of the Health Department from the Central Wellington area last week. The number of cases was stated to be approximately the same as for the same period last year. Commenting on the two deaths, Dr. F. S. Maclean, Medical Officer of Health at Wellington, said they were both children. In the past, he said, investigation had shown that where deaths occurred it was usually because of some delay in getting treatment. In nearly every case if a doctor were consulted immediately tho child would recover However, children were sometimes iii for two or three days before a doctor was called, parents making the mistake of thinking that all that was wrong was a sore throat.

The Department was concerned at the number of cases in the Upper Hutt district in proportion to tho population, said Dr. Maclean, but as tho cases were well spread and were not confined to any particular school or class it was not possible to carry out any intelligent search for carriers. A certain amount of swabbing had been carried out but tho Department was putting its faith in its immunisation campaign among school children.

“It takes a little while to build up immurfity,” he added, “but in the course of a few weeks the disease in schools should be a back number. The Department very much regrets the two deaths but is not alarmed at the position as regards tho district as a whcle.”